Rachel Denny Clow/Caller-Times
A Kemp's ridley hatchling makes its way to the Gulf of Mexico at the season's first turtle release at Malaquite Beach.

Corpus Christi Caller-Times

PADRE ISLAND NATIONAL SEASHORE - The largest week of public turtle hatchling releases is tentatively scheduled to end at 6:45 a.m. Saturday at Padre Island National Seashore.

This would be the 25th release of the season and sixth since Sunday. Donna Shaver, chief of the Padre Island National Seashore Division of Turtle Science and Recovery, said there will likely be 1-3 more releases this season. The next releases will likely be held between July 26 and Aug. 1, when eight more nests are expected to hatch.

The release will be held in front of the Malaquite Beach Visitor Center, about two miles past the park entrance on Park Road 22. Park entrance fees are waived for people attending the release.

A park ranger will meet people at the visitor center to provide a program about the turtles at 6:30 a.m., before leading people to the release site.

Please don't bring food, since it attracts gulls and please don't wear white clothing or footwear, it distracts the hatchlings. Flash photography is not permitted.